Methods and apparatus for a vaporizer device

ABSTRACT

An atomizer for use with a vaporizer device according to various aspects of the subject technology may comprise a chamber, a reservoir, a heating element, and a pump. The chamber may be configured to hold a vaporizable material, the reservoir may be configured to hold an aerosol-forming mixture, and the heating element may be capable of applying heat to the chamber. The pump may be in communication with the chamber and the reservoir. The pump may be configured to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir to the chamber in response to being enabled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/221,389, filed on Jul. 13, 2021, and incorporates the disclosure of the application in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY State of the Art

“Vape” devices, IQOS devices, and heat-not-burn (HNB) devices (collectively, the “vaporizer devices”) present an alternative to smoking and work by vaporizing a consumable flower, such as Cannabis, tobacco, etc. by heating the flower at a lower temperature than an open flame so that a user can inhale the flower in vapor form, rather than smoke.

A conventional vaporizer device typically has a chamber for holding the flower, and a small, heated coil, in contact with the chamber. A current is typically passed through the coil, heating the chamber and the flower contained therein. However, the flower contained in the chamber of a conventional vaporizer device is ineffective at producing enough vapor when heated. Accordingly, a conventional vaporizer device may be ineffective at activating various terpenes found in the flower, thereby failing to bring out pleasant flavors and aromas of the flower. In addition, a conventional vaporizer device may be ineffective at delivering various compounds found in the flower to the deep lung region of the user where such compounds may be rapidly absorbed into the user's bloodstream.

Existing systems and methods have attempted various solutions by, for example, re-engineering the flower, such as by treating it with a variety of humectants, but they have not sufficiently addressed the need of the vaporizer industry owing to their ineffectiveness and complexity. Thus, conventional systems and methods, if implemented, have not been successful in effectively: activating various flavors and aromas of the flower; and delivering various compounds within the vaporizable material to the deep lungs of the user where they may be rapidly absorbed into the user's bloodstream.

SUMMARY OF THE TECHNOLOGY

An atomizer for use with a vaporizer device according to various aspects of the subject technology may comprise a chamber, a reservoir, a heating element, and a pump. The chamber may be configured to hold a vaporizable material, the reservoir may be configured to hold an aerosol-forming mixture, and the heating element may be capable of applying heat to the chamber. The pump may be in communication with the chamber and the reservoir. The pump may be configured to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir to the chamber in response to being enabled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the subject technology may be derived by referring to the detailed description when considered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In the following figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements and steps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vaporizer system in accordance with an embodiment of the subject technology; and

FIG. 2 representatively illustrates an atomizer in accordance with an embodiment of the subject technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The subject technology may be described in terms of functional block components. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. For example, the subject technology may employ various aerosol-forming mixtures, batteries, chambers, circuitry, coils, control circuitry, heating elements, inlets, logic circuitry, outlets, power supplies, pumps, terpenes, terpene mixtures, tubes, sensors, wires, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions. In addition, the subject technology may be practiced in conjunction with any one of various vaporizer devices, and the atomizer described herein is merely one exemplary application for the technology.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2 , in various embodiments, a vaporizer system 100 may comprise an atomizer 105 adapted to be inserted into a housing 111 of a “vape” device, IQOS device, or heat-not-burn device (the “vaporizer device 110”). The atomizer 105 may comprise a chamber 115 configured to hold a vaporizable material, such as Cannabis flower, tobacco flower, and the like. The atomizer 105 may also comprise a heating element 120 disposed within the atomizer 105, where the heating element 120 may be in contact with the chamber 115 and may heat the vaporizable material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the vaporizable material. The atomizer 105 may further comprise a reservoir 125 configured to hold an aerosol-forming mixture therein and a pump 130 in communication with the chamber 115 and the reservoir 125. The pump 130 may be configured to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115 in response to being enabled. The vaporizer system 100 may further comprise a base portion 112 comprising a control circuit 135 for controllably operating the pump 130 and a battery 140 for supplying power to various components of the vaporizer system 100.

The heating element 120 may comprise any suitable resistive element that dissipates heat when an electric current flows through it. For example, the heating element 120 may comprise a coil, ribbon (straight or corrugated), strip of wire, wire mesh, or the like. In one embodiment, the heating element 120 may comprise a coil 121 having a first end 122 and a second end 123. The coil 121 may be of any suitable size and shape such that it may fit within the atomizer 105. The coil 121 may be constructed from a variety of suitable materials, such as nickel, iron, stainless steel, or a combination thereof. In addition, the coil 121 may have any suitable resistance so long as the coil 121 dissipates enough heat to heat the vaporizable material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the vaporizable material. For example, in the case where the vaporizable material is Cannabis flower, the flower within the chamber 115 may be heated to a temperature of approximately 215 to 480° F. to create an aerosolized vapor therefrom.

The chamber 115 may comprise any suitable chamber or container capable of holding the vaporizable material therein. The chamber 115 may be configured to transmit the heat produced by the heating element 120, in the form of thermal energy, to the vaporizable material contained therein. The chamber 115 may comprise an inlet 116 for receiving the aerosol-forming mixture therethrough. Modifications may be made to the chamber 115 without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment, the chamber 115 may comprise a plurality of sections where each section may contain a portion of the vaporizable material.

The reservoir 125 may comprise any suitable reservoir or tank capable of holding the aerosol-forming mixture therein. The reservoir 125 may be in fluid communication with the chamber 115, such that the aerosol-mixture may flow from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115. The reservoir 125 may comprise any suitable size and shape. For example, in one embodiment, the reservoir 125 may be cylindrical-shaped and may be configured to hold between about 0.1 ml and about 2 ml of the aerosol-forming mixture. In addition, the reservoir 125 may be constructed from any suitable material, such as glass, plastic, and the like.

The pump 130 may comprise any suitable pump and/or system for moving the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115. For example, the pump 130 may comprise a micropump, a peristaltic pump, a capillary pump, a gravity pump, a pressure pump, and the like. The pump 130 may be configured to dispense a precise, predetermined amount of the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115 on each stroke.

In one embodiment, the pump 130 may comprise a tube 131 connected to the inlet 116 of the chamber 115 and an outlet 126 of the reservoir 125 and a motor 133 having two or more rollers (not shown) extending radially outwards. The motor 133 and a portion of the tube 131 may be fitted inside of a pump casing 132. The portion of the tube 131 that is fitted inside of the pump casing 132 may be wrapped around the rollers so that the rollers may compress the tube 131 as they rotate, thereby closing the tube 131 and trapping a certain amount of the aerosol-forming mixture therein. As the rollers rotate, the trapped aerosol-forming mixture may move through the tube 131 from the outlet 126 of the reservoir 125 toward the inlet 116 of the chamber 115. As the tube 131 opens to its natural state after the rollers pass, aerosol-forming mixture may be drawn into the tube 131 from the reservoir 125 via the outlet 126.

In another embodiment, the pump 130 may comprise a spring-loaded system and/or a valve (not shown) or otherwise constructed to permit a user of the vaporizer device 110 to impose a repeated pumping action to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115 as a spray or mist. In this regard, the user may be provided with control of the flow rate of the aerosol-forming mixture. The flow rate is a measure of the amount of liquid aerosol-forming mixture that is pumped from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115 per unit of time and it may depend on the size of the chamber 115, the size of the reservoir 125, desired vapor production, and the desired temperature of the chamber 115. For example, in the case where the user desires a high vapor production, the flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming mixture may be increased. In contrast, in the case where the user desires a low vapor production, the flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming mixture may be decreased.

According to various embodiments, the control circuit 135 may comprise a logic circuit 136 configured to receive inputs from various components. The control circuit 135 may be configured to provide a plurality of control signals, i.e., enable and disable signals, to various component of the vaporizer system 100. The control circuit 135, including the functionality of the logic circuit 136, may be implemented using a variety of different logic components, processors, associated configuration data and/or stored programming instructions.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , the pump 130 may comprise a pair of wires, A, comprising two wires A0, A1. Wire A0 may be connected to a ground node or reference node, and wire A1 may be connected to the battery 140 at a port 141. The port 141 may be connected to a control port 142. The control port 142 may be connected to the control circuit 135 for receiving, via the logic circuit 136, an enable signal 151 and a disable signal 152. The control port 142 may be configured to enable the port 141 in response to receiving the enable signal 151. Similarly, the control port 142 may be configured to disable the port 141 in response to receiving the disable signal 152.

The control circuit 135 may be configured to enable the motor 133 by sending the enable signal 151 to the control port 142. Similarly, the control circuit 135 may be configured to disable the motor 133 by sending the disable signal 152 to the control port 142. Referring to the example described in paragraph [0014] of this application, the control port 142 may close a simple switch (not shown) of the port 141 in response to receiving the enable signal 151 from the control circuit 135, thereby closing the circuit between the battery 140 and the motor 133. Once the switch is closed, the battery 140 may supply a current to the motor 133, thereby turning the motor 133 to ON. In contrast, the control port 142 may open the switch of the port 141 in response to receiving the disable signal 152 from the control circuit 135, thereby opening the circuit between the battery 140 and the motor 133. Once the switch is open, the battery 140 may not supply current to the motor 133, thereby turning the motor 133 to OFF.

It will be appreciated that the control circuit 135 may controllably operate the motor 133 in any suitable manner. For example, the motor 133 may rotate continuously when the motor 133 is turned to ON. Alternatively, the control circuit 135 may enable the motor 133 such that the motor 133 indexes through partial revolutions to deliver progressively smaller amounts of the aerosol-forming mixture to the chamber 115 over time.

In one embodiment, the aerosol-forming mixture may comprise water and an aerosol-forming agent. The aerosol-forming agent may comprise vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof. The concentration of the water may be between about 60% and about 70% by weight of the aerosol-forming mixture. The concentration of the aerosol-forming agent may be between about 25% and about 40% by weight of the aerosol-forming mixture.

Because the aerosol-forming mixture may have a higher heat capacity than the air inside the chamber 115, adding the aerosol-forming mixture to the chamber 115 may aid in transmitting the heat produced by the heating element 120, in the form of thermal energy, to the flower contained therein. Accordingly, the vaporizer device 110 may conserve a greater amount of total energy, thereby allowing a user to utilize the vaporizer device 110 many times before having to change or recharge the battery 140. In addition, the aerosol-forming mixture may facilitate the formation of steam inside the chamber 115 by lowering the boiling point of the vaporizable material. Because the boiling point of the vaporizable material may be lowered, the vaporizable material may be less prone to experiencing thermal degradations, i.e., molecular deterioration as a result of overheating, thereby effectively activating various compounds, such as terpenes, within the vaporizable material to provide improved flavors and aromas.

The aerosol-forming mixture may further comprise a carrier-compound mixture. In one embodiment, the carrier-compound mixture may comprise a terpene mixture. Because terpenes are generally lipophilic and have a propensity to metabolize lipophilic compounds, they may aid in effectively carrying a variety of lipophilic compounds contained in the vaporizable material to the deep lungs of the user where a high concentration of such compounds may be rapidly absorbed into the user's bloodstream, thereby increasing sensations of pleasure. As an example, in the case where the vaporizable material comprises Cannabis flower, the lipophilic, cannabinoid-derived compounds of the Cannabis flower may comprise tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), cannabichromene (CBC), and cannabigerol (CBG)).

The terpene mixture may comprise bisabolol, borneol, camphene, camphor, caryophyllene, cedrene, cymene, eucalyptol, fenchol, geraniol, geranyl acetate, guaiene, guaiol, humulene, isopulegol, limonene, linalool, menthol, myrcene, nerolidol, ocimene, phellandrene, phytol, pinene, pulegone, sabinene, terpineol, terpinolene, valencene, or any combination thereof.

As an example, in one embodiment, the terpene mixture may comprise a first terpene, a second terpene, and a third terpene. The first terpene may comprise myrcene, nerolidol, or a combination thereof. The second terpene may comprise limonene, pinene, linalool, terpineol, terpinolene, terpineol, menthol, or a combination thereof. The third terpene may comprise caryophyllene, borneol, phytol, or a combination thereof. The concentration of the first terpene may be about 50% by weight of the terpene mixture. The concentration of the second terpene may be about 40% by weight of the terpene mixture. The concentration of the third terpene may be about 10% by weight of the terpene mixture. The concentration of the first terpene, second terpene, and third terpene may be between about 1% and about 5% by weight of the combined aerosol-forming mixture and terpene mixture.

It will be appreciated that the terpenes may be selected according to their therapeutic and medicinal properties. For example, myrcene may provide a relaxing, sedating, and musky aroma. Limonene may have anxiolytic and anti-cancer properties and may provide a citrus aroma. Caryophyllene may have certain pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, pinene may help protect against ulcers, and ocimene may have anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Given that moderate to high concentrations of CBD may be particularly effective at reducing anxiety and preventing panic attacks, a terpene mixture comprising caryophyllene and/or myrcene that also contains a high concentration of CBD, such as at least 10% by weight, may be particularly effective at reducing anxiety and panic attacks.

In operation, the vaporizer device 110 may be turned on by a sensor 114, which may be an airflow or other type of trigger sensor, or by pressing a button or switch. For example, in the case where the vaporizer device 110 is “draw-activated”, a user may turn on the vaporizer device 110 by drawing air into the vaporizer device 110 via an inlet 150 by inhaling through a mouthpiece (not shown) connected to an outlet 155. When the user inhales, a negative pressure may be induced inside the vaporizer device 110. The negative pressure induced inside the vaporizer device 110 may cause the sensor 114 to close a pressure switch (not shown), thereby closing the circuit between the battery 140 and various components of the vaporizer system 100. Once the pressure switch (not shown) is closed, the battery 140 may supply power to various components of the vaporizer device 110, including the control circuit 135 and the heating element 120.

Once the heating element 120 is enabled, the battery 140 may supply a current to the heating element 120, such that the heating element 120 may dissipate heat when the current flows through it. Because the heating element 120 may be in contact with the chamber 115, the heating element 120 may apply heat to the chamber 115.

At this point, the user of the vaporizer device 110 may controllably operate the pump 130 in order to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115. As discussed in paragraph [0015] of this application, the user may control the flow rate and the total amount of the aerosol-forming mixture that the pump 130 dispenses from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115. For example, before and/or during the period of time over which the heating element 120 is enabled, the user may press a button (not shown) that, when pressed, may instruct the control circuit 135, via the logic circuit 136, to send the enable signal 151 to the control port 142. The control port 142 may then close the switch of the port 141 in response to receiving the enable signal 151, thereby closing the circuit between the battery 140 and the pump 130. Once the switch is closed, the battery 140 may supply a current to the motor 133, thereby turning the motor 133 to ON. Once the motor 133 is turned to ON, the pump 130 may begin to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115.

During the time period over which the heating element 120 is enabled, the heating element may vaporize the vaporizable material by heating the chamber 115 to a temperature sufficient to generate the vapor. Because the aerosol-forming mixture may have a higher heat capacity than the air inside the chamber 115, adding the aerosol-forming mixture to the chamber 115 may aid in transmitting the heat produced by the heating element 120, in the form of thermal energy, to the vaporizable material contained therein. Accordingly, the vaporizer device 110 may conserve a greater amount of total energy, thereby allowing the user to utilize the vaporizer device 110 many times before having to change or recharge the battery 140.

In addition, the aerosol-forming mixture may facilitate the formation of steam inside the chamber 115 by lowering the boiling point of the vaporizable material. Because the boiling point of the vaporizable material may be lowered, the vaporizable material may be less prone to experiencing thermal degradations, i.e., molecular deterioration as a result of overheating, thereby effectively activating various compounds, such as terpenes, within the vaporizable material to provide the user with improved flavors and aromas.

Once the vapor is produced, it may mix with the air drawn into the atomizer 105 via the inlet 150, and the resulting aerosol (vapor and airflow) may travel as an aerosol stream along the airflow path A where it may be expelled via the outlet 155 and inhaled through the mouthpiece.

Following the end of the time period over which the heating element 120 is enabled or at any other time during the vaporization process, the user may press the button a second time, such that when the button is pressed twice, the control circuit 135, via the logic circuit 136, may send the disable signal 152 to the control port 142. The control port 142 may then open the switch of the port 141 in response to receiving the disable signal, thereby opening the circuit between the battery 140 and the motor 133. Once the switch is open, the battery 140 may not supply a current to the motor 133, thereby turning the motor 133 to OFF. Once the motor is turned to OFF, the pump 130 may not dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir 125 to the chamber 115.

The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative of the technology and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the subject technology in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and other functional aspects of the apparatus may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connections and points of contact shown in the various figures are intended to represent exemplary physical relationships between the various elements. Many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system.

In the foregoing description, the technology has been described with reference to specific embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the subject technology as set forth. The description and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative manner, rather than a restrictive one and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the subject technology. Accordingly, the scope of the technology should be determined by the generic embodiments described and their legal equivalents rather than by merely the specific examples described above. For example, the components and/or elements recited in any apparatus embodiment may be combined in a variety of permutations to produce substantially the same result as the subject technology and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the specific examples.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments. Any benefit, advantage, solution to problems or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or to become more pronounced, however, is not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or component.

The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, composition, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, composition, or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials, or components used in the practice of the subject technology, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied, or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.

The subject technology has been described above with reference to an embodiment. However, changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the subject technology. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the subject technology. 

1. An atomizer for use with a vaporizer device, comprising: a chamber configured to hold a vaporizable material; a heating element capable of applying heat to the chamber; a reservoir configured to hold an aerosol-forming mixture; and a pump in communication with the chamber and the reservoir and configured to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir to the chamber in response to being enabled.
 2. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein the pump comprises at least one of a micropump, a peristaltic pump, a capillary pump, a gravity pump, or a pressure pump.
 3. The atomizer of claim 1, wherein: the aerosol-forming mixture comprises water and an aerosol-forming agent; and the aerosol-forming agent comprises vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof.
 4. The atomizer of claim 3, wherein the aerosol-forming mixture further comprises a terpene mixture.
 5. The atomizer of claim 4, wherein the terpene mixture comprises bisabolol, borneol, camphene, camphor, caryophyllene, cedrene, cymene, eucalyptol, fenchol, geraniol, geranyl acetate, guaiene, guaiol, humulene, isopulegol, limonene, linalool, menthol, myrcene, nerolidol, ocimene, phellandrene, phytol, pinene, pulegone, sabinene, terpineol, terpinolene, valencene, or a combination thereof.
 6. A vaporizer system, comprising: an atomizer, comprising: a chamber configured to hold a vaporizable material; a heating element capable of applying heat to the chamber; a reservoir configured to hold an aerosol-forming mixture; and a pump in communication with the chamber and the reservoir and configured to dispense the aerosol-forming mixture from the reservoir to the chamber in response to being enabled; and a control circuit configured to controllably operate the pump.
 7. The vaporizer system of claim 6, wherein the pump comprises at least one of a micropump, a peristaltic pump, a capillary pump, a gravity pump, or a pressure pump.
 8. The vaporizer system of claim 6, further comprising a control port connected to the control circuit and configured to receive an enable signal and a disable signal.
 9. The vaporizer system of claim 6, wherein: the aerosol-forming mixture comprises water and an aerosol-forming agent; and the aerosol-forming agent comprises vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof.
 10. The vaporizer system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit is further configured to: enable the pump by sending the enable signal to the control port; and disable the pump by sending the disable signal to the control port.
 11. The vaporizer system of claim 9, wherein the aerosol-forming mixture further comprises a terpene mixture.
 12. The vaporizer system of claim 11, wherein the terpene mixture comprises bisabolol, borneol, camphene, camphor, caryophyllene, cedrene, cymene, eucalyptol, fenchol, geraniol, geranyl acetate, guaiene, guaiol, humulene, isopulegol, limonene, linalool, menthol, myrcene, nerolidol, ocimene, phellandrene, phytol, pinene, pulegone, sabinene, terpineol, terpinolene, valencene, or a combination thereof. 